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Synonym Chooser

How is the word avid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of avid are anxious, athirst, eager, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

When might anxious be a better fit than avid?

Although the words anxious and avid have much in common, anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

Where would athirst be a reasonable alternative to avid?

The meanings of athirst and avid largely overlap; however, athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

When could eager be used to replace avid?

While in some cases nearly identical to avid, eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

When is it sensible to use keen instead of avid?

The synonyms keen and avid are sometimes interchangeable, but keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of avid Residents who live near a fishing location, spend a lot of time near the water or are avid boaters are encouraged to get involved. Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2025 Daniel Lobo was described in his obituary as an avid baseball player who had a love for music, with oldies and bachata being his favorites. Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2025 Sarah, who is an avid diver, has also written two books about her experiences: Noodle Loses Dad, a 2020 children’s book about loss, grief and blended families, and her memoir, A Time for Truth: My Father Jason and My Search for Justice and Healing, released in February 2025. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 10 May 2025 The smoke travels up almost 100 feet of steel and copper tubes to the chimney and the world beyond. 21h ago / 1:45 AM PDT Share Panini, water and a telescopic folding stool: how to survive the conclave Alexander Smith Reporting from Vatican City For the avid smokewatcher, preparation is key. Katie Primm, NBC news, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for avid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avid
Adjective
  • Like Sánchez, many Chicago-area Catholics are making the nearly 4,000-mile pilgrimage to the Vatican to witness the inauguration Mass and other papal events this month, eager to celebrate one of their own rising to become Catholicism’s spiritual leader.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
  • Sometimes the person accepting the soft promotion is eager to move up the ladder.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Key Background Leo was born in Chicago as Robert Francis Prevost, and his election as pontiff drew excited responses from Vance and President Donald Trump, who both wished him success in his role leading the Catholic Church.
    Molly Bohannon, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • The nerves turned into excited butterflies as my wave kicked off.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Conservatives, in their minds, are just always evil, mean, greedy, bad demons.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025
  • Here’s some truth that many women are not accustomed to hearing: wanting to be wealthy is not greedy.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • In 2019, Joker received an enthusiastic eight-minute reception in Venice.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 May 2025
  • The show gets really enthusiastic and vocal reactions from the crowds — mid-act standing ovations and cheers.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Top Gun is streaming on Paramount+ and Prime Video, while Top Gun: Maverick is streaming on Paramount+. ‘Willow’ (1988) Val Kilmer stars as the mercenary Madmartigan opposite his then-real-life wife, Joanne Whalley as Sorsha, the daughter of the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) in Willow.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • And how to be optimally developmental and transactional in an increasingly mercenary environment.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Among Mao’s most ardent admirers, there’s a sense of pride that the US president appears to be borrowing from the revolutionary playbook of their esteemed supreme leader.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
  • Prime Minister Modi in India has been a very ardent Hindu nationalist.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • The comedy-drama follows a Gen Z content creator who returns to her ancestral home seeking viral material, only to encounter her deceased brother’s ghost while dealing with avaricious relatives.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This nation state, my home, is built on a quagmire of lies sold to the young as truths; sold to the insecure as truths; sold by the avaricious, the power-hungry, the conceited, the overwhelmingly white and male.
    Christine Winter, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • With distrust running high, both sides have been keen not to appear weak, and economic analysts had low expectations of a breakthrough.
    Emma Farge, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Afterward, the friend wanted to return to the hotel to rest again, but the OP was keen to keep exploring.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 11 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Avid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avid. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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